Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-20
DAILY HERALD.
in EARLY TIMES.
Missions Founded by Fran
ciscan Friars.
THE HARDSHIPS THEY SAW.
Description of San Gabriel, San
Fernando, San Diego and
Other Missions.
IN EARLY TIMES.
THE HARDsHIPs THEY SAW.

CatuCi hudlls WuO luttlluS NlSltluS
Europe towards the end of this month,
has bought handsome present,
which he intends presenting to His
Holiness, the Pope, to be placed
among the archives of Rome. 1t con-
sists of gigantic case containing
etchings of the Franciscan Missions of
California, with the outlines of his
tory, description, etc. The work is on
brown tissue paper, and is entirely
executed with the pen. On the ex-
pulsion of the Jesuits from Lower Cal
ifornia in 1867, the deserted missions
we're intrusted by the Spanish Gov
eminent to the care of the College of
San Fernando, in Mexico, and Father
Junipero Sierra was appointed Mis-
.sionary President. Leaving the con-
vent at San Fernando, accompanied
by sixteen brothers of his order, he
embarked from SanBlas in March, 1853,
for Loretto, which p int was reached
April l, 1768, and possession was
taken of the deserted missions of the
peninsula. After dispatching his
brethren to their various charges, an
expedition under military protection
was organized for the establishment
of the faith in Upper California. The
force was divided into two parties, one
setting out by land and the other by
sea. Father Junipero accompanied
the land party, and after marchi1gs
and haltings and enduring many hard
ships for period of several months
they arrived at the port of San Diego
on July l, 1859. Sixteen days after
wards the party consecrated the foun-
dation of the San Diego mission. They
named one Of the huts to be used as a
church Ana, invited the Indians to
attend service. They made them pres
ents of food, which they rejected. but
they eagerly accepted pieces of cloth.
They would not bow before
the cross, but they went at night on
RATS of bullrushes to the ship in the
harbor, and stole a portion of her
sails. In August they became more
bold, and forced their way into the
quarters of the people and carried off
garments and other valuables. Their
depredations became so frequent that
finally an attack was made, and many
of the savages were killed,
the missionaries losing one boy. In
the year l775 the savages made
another attack upon the missionaries,
burning some Of the missionary build
ings and killing Father Luis. A per-
manent site for the missions was Sc
lected on an elevation overlooking the
vx1ley of San Diego river, about eight
miles from its mouth. But little is
left of the former buildings except a
portion of the church and the ada
cent dormitories. The bell tower has
fallen, and the bells, which were cast
in Spain, hang in the rear of the
Catholic Church in old San Diego.
While the Fathers were seeking a
site for the San Gabriel Mission they
were suddenly surprised by a multi
tude of armed Indians, who made hos
tile demonstrations. This mission
was finally founded, however, and the
first mass was celebrated under tree
ON the Sth of September, 1771. But
little is left standing of the
missionary buildings except
the church, a solidly built
structure of distinctive style of ar
chitecture with thick walls and a Gu
rious group of arches forming the bel
fry. A stone staircase near the cor
ner leads to the choir. The interior
is remarkably well preserved and the
old paintings and altar furniture re-
main intact. 1t is now used as par
ish church. The water yet flows in
the old bitches and the large garden
near by yet bears abundant crops.
The mission at San Fernando is
situated near the San Fernando pass,
at the head of the valley of the same
name, in the northern portion OF Los
Angeles county. 1t was founded in
1897 and soon grew to be rich in the
usual products of the county. The
church, constructed of adobe, with
succeed walls and tiled roof, is now in
q deplorable condition and untenable,
vet the dormitories and storehouses
are in an excellent state of preserva-
ton, having evidently been more
carefully built. Some of the best
rooms have been inhabited by Gov
evor Pico as a summer residence. The
remains of a once beautiful fountain
shaded by a graceful willow and pep
per trees is yet to be seen and a
ruined adobe wall surrounds an ex-
tensive garden containing the largest
olive trees in the State and several
pear and palm trees are at the latter
having obtained the altitude of fifty
feet.
The mission of San Juan Capistrano
was founded on November l, l776, by
Padre Sierra. The church was in the
shape of cross, $50 feet in length,
100 feet in width in the transept, and
80 feet in height, with walls five feet
in thickness. The edifice was built of
cut stone, the material for which was
hauled from distant mountain by
the Indians. The chains which were
used in dragging these rocks are still
to be seen on the spot.
The foundation ceremonies at the
Santa Barbara Mission were cele-
brated on the 4th day of December,
1886. Its situation is perhaps more
beautiful and commanding than that
of any other of the buildings, stand
ing on an elevation 300 feet above the
sea and about three miles distant
from it, overlooking the quiet town
and harbor. The view to the South
and East across the channel
to the dreary islands OF
Anacapa and Santa Cruz and to the
valleys of Montecito and Carpinteria
down the mountain-outlined coast
thence to the varied slopes OF the
rock-crowned Santa Ynez and the
cultivated plains of the Potrero on tc
the softened blue of the mountains o.
the Gaviota and distant Point Con.
cepcion, furnishes series OF pleasing
impressions rarely equalled. From
its elevated position the whiteneC
facade and long corridor of the Mis-
sion is seen far out on the Pacific, ant
forms striking object to sailor and
tourist on the approach to Santa Bar.